Massive LNG-powered bulker joins U-Ming’s fleet

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, has delivered a 190,000 dwt dual-fuel LNG bulk carrier Ubuntu Harmony to Taiwanese bulk carrier company U-Ming Marine.

The giant vessel is the first of the planned four LNG-powered ships to be completed by the shipyard. According to the company, the delivery comes one-and-a-half months ahead of schedule.

The ship is equipped with two C-type LNG fuel tanks and MAN Energy Solutions’ high-pressure ME-GI engines which have a drastically reduced methane slippage. The design of the dual-fuel bulker has been independently developed by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding.

The shipbuilder said that the vessel’s gas cruising range reaches 20,000 nautical miles, enabling it to complete two round-trip routes from China to Australia or one round-trip route from China to Brazil. As disclosed, the vessel’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) is 45 pct lower than the baseline.

The delivery comes just a week after the shipbuilder hosted a naming ceremony for Ubuntu Harmony and its sister vessel Ubuntu Equality. The ships from the series are expected to bunker LNG in Singapore.

Two more vessels from the 187,300 dwt batch, Ubunutu Integrity and Ubuntu Loyalty, are slated for delivery from Shanghai Waigaoqiao in 2023.

Furthermore, one of the vessels will be provided with Jotun’s Hull Skating Solutions (HSS).

Jotun’s HSS combines the Hull Skater, an underwater robotic device with hull inspection and cleaning capabilities, and SeaQuantum Skate, a purpose developed antifouling coating.

The four LNG-fuelled bulkers were ordered by U-Ming from Shanghai Waigaqiao in 2020 and they have been chartered by mining giant Anglo-American on long-term deals of 10 years each.